Biography

21 October 1957, Deri, Glamorgan, Wales. Former geography teacher Cope first attracted attention as an integral part of Liverpools post-punk renaissance, most notably as a member of the short-lived but seminal group the Crucial Three, which also included Ian McCulloch and Pete Wylie. In 1978 Cope began writing songs with Ian McCulloch in A Shallow Madness, but the pair quickly fell out over the direction of the group. While McCulloch formed Echo And The Bunnymen, Cope founded the Teardrop Explodes whose early releases enjoyed critical acclaim. The band had several hit singles but an introspective second album, Wilder, was heavily criticized before dissent within the ranks led to their demise.

In 1984 Cope embarked on a solo career with the poorly received World Shut Your Mouth, but misfortune dogged his progress. The singer intentionally gashed his stomach with a broken microphone stand during an appearance at Londons Hammersmith...